Chapter 51: On the Opportunity of Swordplay

A furnace of thunder and fire hovered above her lower dantian. Lightning and flames intertwined, exuding an extraordinary aura. The yellow earthen spiritual power within her dantian swirled and shifted, supporting the entire furnace, its base fused seamlessly with the energy in her core...

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As the furnace took shape, the demonic power of the peach branch erupted once more, crashing heavily into the furnace. Yet now, the furnace, having fully condensed, stood immovable as a mountain, unshaken in the slightest. On the contrary, its blazing thunder-fire surged relentlessly toward the peach branch.

Through her spiritual sense, Jiang Min saw that, although the peach branch continued to resist the thunder-fire, during their stalemate, faint threads of that formidable energy slowly seeped into the branch, pressing the blood-red blossoms until they shriveled and withered.

Witnessing this, Jiang Min felt immense satisfaction; for the first time, a genuine smile lifted her brows.

"It seems this Thunderfire Furnace Treasure Refining Method is truly formidable. Once formed, it can suppress the peach branch and gradually refine it."

"The peach branch has threatened me for years—now, at last, I can breathe easier. At this rate, it's only a matter of time before it's wholly refined."

Having resolved this great peril, Jiang Min felt as though a sword hanging over her head had finally been removed. Of course, other threats remained—one being Jiang Ziyi and the Li family of Fengjiang.

Eliminating all danger would still be a long journey.

She turned her gaze to the medicine furnace. Half of the violet-red elixir remained.

"Now that the dantian furnace is complete, the next step is to transform my entire body into a furnace."

The first stage of the Thunderfire Ten-Thousand Sword Technique—Thunderfire Furnace Treasure Refining—comprised two phases. She had completed the first: forging the furnace within her dantian. Now came the second: turning her whole body into a furnace, refining herself.

Only by mastering both could she claim true perfection in the first level.

"According to the sword technique, the pain of this stage is akin to walking through mountains of blades and seas of fire. But endure the worst, and the agony will fade, vanishing altogether."

Jiang Min drew a deep breath, her expression resolute.

"I've walked through blades and fire—why should I fear this?"

At once, she swallowed the elixir and began the second stage of her cultivation without hesitation.

...

Half a month passed.

In her silent chamber, Jiang Min sat cross-legged, eyes nearly closed. On her skin, arcs of lightning and tongues of flame danced ceaselessly, but the faint glow from her azure robe suppressed these powers, subduing them once more.

At a certain moment, all lightning and fire suddenly withdrew into her body and vanished. Jiang Min slowly opened her eyes; deep within, the remnants of thunder and flame flickered, before fading away.

"It's done," she exhaled a breath of searing heat, relief softening her features.

Never had she imagined that the second stage would be so grueling. No wonder her predecessor had tested her with blades and fire before teaching her the Thunderfire Ten-Thousand Sword Technique.

As she forged herself into a furnace, Jiang Min began to understand why the peach branch had resisted so violently.

Because she, too, suffered.

The agony of forming the furnace surpassed even the torment of blades and fire. For several moments, she nearly wished to annihilate her own body for release...

But once she endured, the medicine’s power took effect, the pain from the Thunderfire Furnace gradually subsided, until it became insignificant.

Now, within her body, not only did a furnace reside in her dantian, suppressing the peach branch, but her entire being had become like a furnace, thunder-fire energy flowing constantly within, tempering her anew. She felt as if she herself were a sword, growing ever more resilient and keen in the storm and blaze.

To make herself the sword, to refine her very being—this is where the Thunderfire Ten-Thousand Sword Technique truly begins.

Jiang Min smiled with quiet delight, rose from her meditation mat, and smoothed the creases from her azure robe.

"The first level of the Thunderfire Ten-Thousand Sword Technique—the Thunderfire Furnace Treasure Refining Method—is now complete."

"The second level, the Thunderfire Sword Radiance Perception, is the method to condense the Sword Radiance."

What is Sword Radiance? It is the first tier of the Sword Qi realm.

There are three levels to Sword Qi: Sword Radiance, Sword Threads, and Sword Gale.

Radiance is the first glimmer of edge, brimming with killing intent.

Threads are Sword Qi woven fine, unending and continuous.

Gale is power concealed, lethal and unseen.

To condense Sword Radiance is the gateway to swordsmanship—a feat some pursue for years without success. Simple in theory, yet as difficult as climbing to the heavens.

It is said that some prodigies can condense Sword Qi upon first entering the path, striking down foes within ten paces. Others, no matter how long they train, remain trapped at the level of basic techniques.

But once this barrier is crossed, one can be called a true sword cultivator; the lethality of sword techniques increases dramatically, cutting through defenses of equal realm as though slicing paper.

"Still, such profound matters are hard to grasp alone. I had best learn from the elders of the Martial Arts Hall."

Jiang Min had wandered too many winding paths and did not consider herself especially gifted. Since the sect had masters willing to guide her, why waste time erring alone?

By her reckoning, sword classes would begin soon.

This would be her first time learning martial arts with the Martial Arts Hall, and she hoped the harvest would not disappoint.

...

Time marched on.

Mount Changqing, Martial Arts Hall.

On the misty plaza, hundreds of disciples in azure robes wielded sharp swords, practicing the foundational sword forms in unison.

Sword lights flashed in waves, their momentum grand.

Near the rear, in an inconspicuous spot, a young woman with a bright and spirited bearing moved with the group. Though her movements matched the others, there was a faint aura about her—like thunder gathering in anger, like rivers and seas shining with tranquil light.

She was Jiang Min.

Three months had passed since she began her sword training.

In those three months, Jiang Min practiced sword by day and cultivated by night. Her days were filled with purpose.

In terms of cultivation, relying on the three second-tier demon cores she obtained from Master Yanming, she advanced to the seventh level of Qi Refining, refining her own Earth Spiritual Power—also known as Yin Earth Power.

She had feared her body would not withstand the demon cores’ power, but thanks to the Scarlet Flame Body and the Thunderfire Furnace Refining Method, her physique bore it easily. Otherwise, an ordinary cultivator of her level would have been destroyed by such reckless absorption.

In swordsmanship, she realized how different guided learning was from self-study. She had once practiced sword forms on her own, but working from street manuals, she had developed many bad habits and flawed moves without even knowing it.

In sword class, however, the teaching elder noticed and corrected each mistake, making her movements smoother, each ounce of strength and every technique applied at precisely the right moment.

Additionally, her teacher paid close attention to the fundamentals she once neglected, such as stance training. Every day, before any sword forms, all disciples were required to hold their stance for a full hour!

Such strict standards brought progress not only to Jiang Min, but to all the disciples. Practicing together, their footwork grew firm, their lines aligned—no longer the disarray of their first attempts, but the beginnings of a true sword formation.

After practice, the disciples sheathed their swords and waited for instruction.

The elder teaching the introductory sword class was named He Liang, a tall, lean, and stern sword cultivator, rarely smiling, always quick to correct any mistake with severity, demanding immediate improvement.

Now, standing before them, he spoke in a clear, commanding voice:

"You have practiced sword forms for three months. Though many problems remain, you have certainly improved from your initial state."

"By the curriculum, you should practice for half a year, until your sword forms are flawless, before I teach you how to condense Sword Radiance."

"But, due to certain reasons—"

"Starting tomorrow, I will begin teaching Sword Radiance early."

At these words, the disciples first froze, then excitement lit their faces.

Sword Radiance—the first realm of Sword Qi, the true entry to swordsmanship!

But why teach it so soon?

He Liang continued,

"Surprised by this early lesson, are you?"

"Six months from now, the sect will take a group of sword disciples to exchange and spar at Ten Thousand Swords Gate."

"You, as newcomers to the sword, were not meant to have this opportunity."

He Liang swept his gaze over them, his tone solemn: "But to encourage your progress, the Martial Arts Hall has decided to grant one place, allowing a new disciple to attend. This spot is directly tied to condensing Sword Radiance."

"Whoever first condenses Sword Radiance independently, without external aid—"

"That place will be yours."

Two chapters combined—about 5,000 words. Update complete.